Monthly archives for March, 2016

You can be forgiven if her name does not immediately ring a bell. Gam was never considered a star during her Hollywood period in the 1950′s. Instead, she was regarded as a solid stage actress turned welcome supporting player — who happen to make one of the most memorable movie debuts in recent decades.

This bring us to The Thief, a highly underrated 1952 film noir that stars RayMilland, a real workhorse who appeared in some 70 productions of all stripes at MGM and at Paramount (his home for two decades) by the time director BillyWilder cast him in his Oscar-winning role as dipsomaniac writer Don Birnam as 1945′s The Lost Weekend.

By the time he starred in The Thief seven years later, Milland was an established star who could carry a picture.

In The Thief Milland plays a dignified, mild-mannered atomic scientist in Washington who just happens to be passing classified nuclear secrets to the Russians. When the FBI gets on his trail, he absconds to New York City en route to some foreign destination.

A death occurs, Milland’s character experiences a breakdown and a self atoning denouement makes things right. Moody location cinematography of various New York locations accentuate the grittiness of the action set train station lockers, rooming houses and seedy tenements complete with blinking neon signs.

What makes this underrated film noir so special?

Well, the characters in the picture carry on without the benefit of dialogue. The plot is driven only by visuals and sound effects.

No spoken lines. None. For the most part, this “experiment” actually works.

What works completely is a brief but searingly erotic turn by Gam, as the siren across the tenement hall who casts come-hither stares in Milland’s direction (he does not reciprocate). Gam’s character is speechless too, but who cares? She’s conveys her erotic invitation with steady glances and come-hither movement.

Rita’s turn in the picture did not go unnoticed. In her obit in The New York Times, it’s noted that Life Magazinefeatured her on its cover that year (1952) as a ‘silent and sexy’ star ‘who can express herself eloquently without words.’ In just a few moments on the screen, the magazine said, Ms. Gam ‘makes a striking movie debut without uttering a word.’

Gam went on to make a number of features of varying quality but none made anywhere near the impression on her behalf as did The Thief. Born in Pittsburgh in 1927, Gam made her Broadway stage debut in 1946. At one point she was married to film and tv director Sidney Lumet.

She was notable for her friendship with Grace Kelly, and was a bridesmaid at her 1956 marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco. While all this is most interesting but to us, Gam will always be most cherished for her spectacular debut as that hot siren across the hall in The Thief.

Americans are equally divided in their devotion to their pets. About half the population prefers dogs and half cats. Then there’s that very, very small percentage who favor birds, fish and other creatures.

What about the stars? As you’ll note from the tasteful to the sexy, Hollywood denizens too are about equally divided.

In a glossy Taschen publication dedicated to Mr. James Bond — Sean Connery to us — there’s a wonderful shot taken early in the shooting of an early 007 collaboration. It shows our subject, Ursula Andress, languidly sunbathing topless with Connery by her side.

Ten days into filming, Connery and Ursula Andress were still unaware of the worldwide attention that (their) film would generate, reads the picture caption. Perhaps the winsome couple had their minds on other matters.

In any case, the movie under discussion certainly had its effect — cementing Connery’s hold as James Bond and projecting Andress as the most enduring “Bond girl” ever. To find out the title of this momentous outing, check the answer to question #1 below.

To find out more about Andress, keep going. To review our Monday Quiz questions, just scroll down to the blog below. Now to our answers:

2) Answer: This one should have been easy, d) Gregory Peck, never the lover type.

3) Answer: d) Andress and Bo Derek shared the same husband, actor John Derek. Ursula was first, wife No. 2 from 1957 to 1966, while Bo was Derek’s fourth and final wife, 1976 to his death in 1998.

4) Answer: c) Andress made about 40 movies in her career, mostly in Europe.

5) Answer: Andress defines herself as a) Swiss-German. She was born on March 19, 1936, in the Swiss canton of Berne. Her father was German.

6) Answer: The father of Andress’ son Dimitri is actor Harry Hamlin. Fifteen years younger than Andress, the pair had a flaming affair during the making of 1981′s Clash of the Titans. Hamlin has been married three times, never to Ursula.

7) Answer: d) 1965′s The Tenth Victim.

8) Answer: b) James Dean. The romance did not end well.

9) Answer: a) True. When she started out, Andress spoke English with a pronounced accent. Thus, her dialogue was repeatedly dubbed. As her career progressed, the dubbing became less frequent.

10) Answer: Jean-Paul Belmondo, the star of director Jean-Luc Godard’s new wave classic, Breathless. (Andress took up with the actor while married to Derek, something she said she regretted doing.)

For those of a certain age, ushering in that startlingly attractive woman pictured above into the octogenarian club is a bit sobering. Time does indeed fly.

Our younger readers should know that Andress in the 1960′s was the essence of the international jet-set star who was the first famous “Bond girl.” She set a stratospheric standard for the type, and is the most enduring 007 playmate ever.

Andress also had a decent film career and a suitably complicated personal life. She was romanced by the biggest stars of the Sixties, and had a child out of wedlock. Today, she is a relatively fit geriatric battling osteoporosis.

Nonetheless, she still looks great. So how much do you really know about Ursula Andress? Time to take our Monday Quiz to find out. As usual, questions today and answers tomorrow. Here we go:

1) Question: Andress is justifiably celebrated today for her striding-out-of-the-surf turn in which one of these James Bond movies? a) 1967′s Casino Royale; b) 1962′s Dr. No; c) 1964′s Goldfinger; or d) 1965′s What’s New Pussycat.

2) Question: Andress’ love life was often more entertaining that her movies. Which of the following famous names was NOT her lover at one time or another? a) Dennis Hopper; b) Fabio Testi; c) Ryan O’Neal or d) Gregory Peck.

3) Question: What do Andress and Bo Derek have in common? a) Both look great in bikinis; b) Both were popular movie sirens of brief longevity; c) Both had many lovers; d) Both shared the same husband.

4) Question: How many movies did Andress actually make in her career? a) a dozen; b) 25; c) 40; or d) 105.

5) Question: Andress was always viewed as European, but where was she from? a) Switzerland; b) Belgium; c) Czech Republic; or d) Russia.

6) Question: Andress had a torrid affair with one of her costars, which produced her first and only child at age 43. Can you name the then famous father?

7) Question: Andress played the female lead equipped with a bullet-firing brassiere in which one of the following titles? a) The Southern Star; b) Nightmare in the Sun; c) The Blue Max; or d) The Tenth Victim.

8) Question: In her early Hollywood days, Andress had a tempestuous affair with which one of the following? a) Rock Hudson; b) James Dean; c) Russ Tamblyn; or d) James Garner.

9) Question: In many of Andress’ movies, her speaking parts were dubbed by other actresses. a) True; or b) False.

10) Question: From 1965 to 1972, Andress had a breathless and very public affair with the best known male star to come out of France’s “new wave.” Can you identify this French actor?

On display were some fascinating items: Power’s personal scripts from several of his best known movies including 1946′s The Razor’s Edge and 1941′s Blood and Sand; costumes the actor wore in 1940′s The Mark of Zorro and 1947′s Captain From Castile; and a rich selection of many photographs covering Power’s career and private life.

The memorabilia was assembled from the private collections of several individuals including three of Power’s four children, Tyrone Jr. (the senior Power was born Tyrone Edmund Power Jr. but dropped the “Jr,” thus his son is Ty Jr.), Taryn and Romina.

But here’s what Joan says:

Hello, what a great site. Lots of fun.

I looked up Tyrone Power and was thrilled that you mentioned the Hollywood Museum exhibit. I was invited to the opening, and it was amazing.

However, Power’s three children contributed very little to it.

The main contributors were Debbie Beno (my friend) and Maria Ciaccia. I believe she appears on both Power box sets in the special features. Debbie also collects on Carole Lombard and Alan Ladd, and costume sketches. She has many costumes from several movies, not necessarily of just those actors. Some are on display in a huge glass case in her home.

How ’bout an exhibition dedicated to Ladd memorabilia, Joan?

We received an e-mail about another of Hollywood’s classic actors in response to our Oct. 26, 2015 blog, FINALLY — A Quiz on WILLIAM POWELL. Reader CC writes:

So true about him (Powell) expressing 1930s cinema more than bigger names. He was and really should be better remembered, because he was an outstanding talent. He was greatly loved and well respected in the Hollywood community and a fascinating person, this old fashioned, well mannered, modest and private gentleman had such wicked humor and wit and could be a bit kooky. Such a great combination for a great and interesting man.

“Sometimes a Great Notion” is a very fine film and (Richard) Jaeckel’s death scene stuck into my mind for years long after I forgot the whole story of the film.

I was surprised that you did not mention Charles McGraw’s best known movie “Narrow Margin” from 1952 with Marie Windsor. A must-watch.

We are HUGE fans of McGraw, Andreas, and have published many blogs about him. His teaming with Windsor is covered in many of the blogs, notably in March 2, 2012′s Charles McGraw — Toughest FILM NOIR Tough Guy. Why not check them out.

Finally, this from Daniel White, who isn’t a Jane Wyman fan:

Though I love a great many film actresses Jane Wyman (featured in our March 15 Monday Quiz) was never one of them. I saw Barbara Stanwyck in (the 1946 romantic drama) ‘My Reputation’ yesterday and was blown away. I guess different strokes…

Joan Crawford’s adopted children might have had terrible things to say about her but most of her co-workers loved her. Crawford was known to have had warm relationships with many of her colleagues both before and behind the cameras.

Ann Blyth met Joan during filming of Mildred Pierce and they remained life long friends.

And Joan liked directors too. According to Vincent Sherman, she usually had sex with them to insure they’d favor her in production. But it’s a safe bet she didn’t have sex with her pal, pictured below, George Cukor. He and Joan liked the same type.

Musical comedy leading men (with the exception of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly) never made the big leagues. BUT musical comedy had its stalwart men — think Howard Keel, Dan Dailey, Donald O’Connor, and Gordon McCrea.

You never heard much about his private life. You never heard rumors about his affairs or tales about his temperament. All the public knew about Gordon McCrae was that he delivered fine performances in entertaining films. He starred in the film versions of two of Broadways biggest hits, Oklahoma and Carousel (along with Shirley Jones).

He starred with Doris Day in two classic musical comedies, On Moonlight Bay, and By The Light of the Silvery Moon, based on Booth Tarkington’s Penrod stories.

All four of those films hold up beautifully today with great acting and production values.

She began her movie career as something of a Jean Harlow copy, then switched to emphasizing the kind of slightly plump and wholesome qualities that made her prefect for the wholesome and plump 20th Century Fox musicals of the mid Thirties and early Forties.

But there was no mistaking Alice Faye as a big star, Fox’s blond doyenne before BettyGrable and Marilyn Monroe arrived on the scene.

She became, after her movie career wound down in the mid Forties, a familiar radio personality paired with her bandleader husband Phil Harris (there they are above.) And Faye is still not fully recognized as the excellent singer she was.

How much did you know about this underrated singer-actress? Let’s get to the answers to our Monday Quiz to find out. As usual, to review the questions just scroll down to the blog below. Here we go:

1) Answer: Faye was first in line as Fox’s reigning blonde star, followed by b) Betty Grable and d) Marilyn Monroe.

2) Answer: As mentioned in our intro, a) Jean Harlow.

3) Answer: Fox’s elite group of stars included a) Tyrone Power, b) Maureen O’Hara and d) Linda Darnell. John Payne was considered a studio stalwart but had not quite reached the elevated status of the aforementioned three.

4) Answer: b) Cole Porter, who believed Faye was Hollywood’s best singer of the late 1930′s.

5) Answer: Fay was married to crooner-actor Tony Martin from 1937 until 1941. (For a photo of the happy young couple, check out blog of April 12, 2012, The Marrying Judge ofYuma County.) Her second husband was, as mentioned, Phil Harris. They married in 1941. The union lasted until his death in 1995. Faye died three years later at age 83.

6) Answer: b) False. Faye is quoted as saying of Tyrone Power: ”He was the best looking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Kissing him was like dying and going to heaven.”

7) Answer: Fay and Fox mogul Darryl Zanuck parted company because of c). Zanuck edited Faye severely in 1945′s Fallen Angels, supposedly to build up costar Darnell. And, in addition, Faye really did want to send more time with her family.

8) Answer: c) Great Britain, where Faye had and still does have many fans.

9) Answer: b) False. Faye and ice skating queen Sonja Henie were considered about equal in marquee power. Both were very big stars.

10) Answer: b) False. Faye had nothing special against child actors, and she worked with the most famous of them, Shirley Temple. Faye found temple precocious and perhaps too bright but highly professional.

In our recent remembrance of Kay Francis (What About KAY FRANCIS, Feb. 26), we noted that there are few actresses who were as big in her time and that have been so forgotten today. That applies almost equally to our Monday Quiz subject as well, singer-actress Alice Faye.

Much like Francis, Faye had her run-ins with Hollywood officialdom — in this case, 20th Century Fox mogul Darryl Zanuck — but unlike Francis, she emerged triumphant. She quit in a huff at the top of her game, and lived nicely to tell about it.

What few recognize today is just how big a star was Faye. She was the female linchpin of a bigtime studio (Fox) in the late Thirties and Early Forties. She was highly popular overseas. And, little recognized now, she as a vocalist introduced nearly two dozen hit songs, which puts her in Bing Crosby territory.

So how much do you know about Alice Faye? Please take our Quiz and find out. As usual, questions today and answers tomorrow. Here we go:

1) Question: Faye was considered at her peak Fox’s resident blonde and its biggest musical star. Which of the following followed in her footsteps? a) Lana Turner; b) Betty Grable; c) Gene Tierney; or d) Marilyn Monroe.

3) Question: As mentioned, Faye was rated among the creme de la creme of of Fox stars in the late Thirties. Which of the following were included in this elite group? a) Tyrone Power; b) Maureen O’Hara; c) John Payne; or d) Linda Darnell.

4) Question: Which one of the following classic American composers regarded Faye as the “best singer in Hollywood.” a) Irving Berlin; b) Cole Porter; c) George Gershwin; or d) Alec Wilder.

5) Question: Faye was married twice to famous musical personalities. Which of the following were at various times her husband? a) Tony Martin; b) Rudy Vallee; c) Ted Fio Rito; or d) Phil Harris.

6) Question: Faye made some of her most popular movies playing opposite TyronePower, but later confessed she personally couldn’t stand the handsome actor. a) True; or b) False?

7) Question: As mentioned, Faye had essentially a career-ending run-in with Fox mogul Zanuck. What was it all about? a) A standard contract dispute; b) Faye refused flat out to make another picture with Tyrone Power; c) Faye was angry because Zanuck had cut many of her scenes in 1945′s Fallen Angel to build up costar Linda Darnell; or d) She wanted to spend more time with her family.

8) Question: Faye had her share of international fans, but she was particularly popular in which one of the following overseas markets? a) Japan; b) France; c) Great Britain; or d) Iceland.

9) Question: Faye was considered a much bigger star than Fox contemporary Sonja Henie. a) True; or b) False?

We recently wrote about the unlikelihood of opera singers successfully making the transition to movie comedy (A Rarity — Opera Singers Turned Solid Comic Actors, March 10), and named two solid supporting players who did so: Fortunio Bonanova and George Gaynes.

But we alarmingly overlooked perhaps the best example of this rare genre.

We’re talking about the fabulous Margaret Dumont, who was considered by Groucho to be “the fifth Marx Brother.” She, of course, played the formidable society doyenne in so many Marx Brothers pictures, the butt of Groucho’s innuendos and insults.

One slight difficulty is that the record of Dumont’s actual opera experience is murky. (If anyone out there knows otherwise, please let us know.)

Whereas both Bonanova and Gaynes were born in Europe, trained there and launched full-scale careers on the opera stages there, most Dumont biographies make only brief mention that “she trained as an opera singer.” Then, she quickly moved on to the stage and eventually the movies.

Dumont was not a European. She was born Daisy Baker in 1889 in Brooklyn, and raised in Atlanta, Ga. area. She prepared for the opera stage as a teenager. But because back then you needed European experience to be taken seriously in the opera world, she moved on to theater and other forms of show biz.

She worked onstage as a show girl in Britain and France, and was hailed for her “statuesque beauty.” (Dumont stood 5-foot-9, tall for an early 20th century woman.) In 1910, she married a wealthy industrialist and sugar heir, and retired. After his death in 1918, she resumed her stage career.

The connection to the Marx Brothers occurred when Dumont was noticed by playwright-director George S. Kaufman, who hired her to play the haughty dowager in the Broadway production of The Cocoanuts in 1925. Animal Crackers followed, and then on to the movie versions of these stage productions.

Throughout such Marx Brothers classics as 1933′s Duck Soup, 1935′s A Night At TheOpera, 1937′s A Day At The Races and 1939′s At The Circus, Dumont essentially played the same character — a wealthy, strong-voiced woman totally befuddled by the Marx Brother antics. Her operatic bearing was perfect for the part, and made her a weighty comedy presence.

Her imperturbability is based on the placid knowledge that she is stronger than Groucho, that all his insult is childish prattle, wrote critic David Thomson.